Women in Iran have long struggled with the state’s strict dress code. Now they are worried as a new law is about to come into force. Dubbed the “chastity and hijab” law, the legislation has been criticized for severely restricting women's liberties, including the ability to express their identity through their appearance, and imposing heavy penalties for noncompliance.

Nearly 2,500 Syrian soldiers, who sought refuge in Iraq earlier this month as Bashar al-Assad’s regime was facing a lightning-blitz by a coalition of rebels, are set to be “voluntarily” repatriated to their country in the coming days, a top security official in Iraq’s bordering province of Anbar said on Wednesday.